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FIFA is pleased that Brazil's lower house of Congress passed a bill giving soccer's governing body the guarantees it wants to organize the 2014 World Cup.

FIFA said in a statement Thursday it has "taken note of the voting" and is "pleased that finally the first step was made towards finalizing this chapter."

The lower house approved the bill late Wednesday after several delays because of other congressional matters and a dispute over the sale of alcohol inside stadiums. That's now against the law in Brazil but FIFA wants that to change because Budweiser is a major World Cup sponsor.

FIFA has been urging Brazil to approve the bill, which now goes to the senate before reaching President Dilma Rousseff for her signature.